Maths

Clearly an understanding of mathematics is vital to provide the numeracy skills to allow us to get by in everyday life. On another level, there is an inherent beauty and wonder in mathematics which students have the opportunity to discover.
All mathematics rooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards which allow access to a range of resources including the internet.
All students follow the National Curriculum, but are set according to ability, so they are studying at a level that suits them. Set changes can occur at any time, but usually take place once every half term. Students follow their personalised learning journeys based on prior attainment from KS2 and mapped to expected outcomes at GCSE.
In Year 9 we have two accelerated Mathematics groups, who begin the GCSE course at the start of Year 9 and in Year 10 they take the Level 3 Award in Algebra. They will then finish the GCSE course in Year 11.

The GCSE Mathematics course is split up into two tiers – Higher and Foundation. All students will follow the linear course.

The EDEXCEL syllabus is followed.

The course promotes functional mathematics and problem solving in addition to solving more straight forward questions both within a mathematical and non- mathematical context.

Linear GCSE

A Linear GCSE is a GCSE where all the content of the syllabus is covered over a two year period and then assessed with a single examination in the June of the second year.

There will be three parallel examination papers each counting for 33.3% of the final mark. Each paper has 80 marks.

Weighting

Foundation Tier

(grades 1-5)

Paper 1

Non- Calculator

1 hour 30 Minutes

33.3%

Foundation Tier

(grades 1-5)

Paper 2

With -Calculator

1 hour 30 Minutes

33.3%

Foundation Tier

(grades 1-5)

Paper 3

With – Calculator

1 hour 30 Minutes

33.3%

Higher Tier

(grades 4-9)

Paper 1

Non- Calculator

1 hour 30 Minutes

33.3%

Higher Tier

(grades 4-9)

Paper 2

With- Calculator

1 hour 30 minutes

33.3%

Higher Tier

(grades 4-9)

Paper 3

With – Calculator

1 hour 30 minutes

33.3%

Year 9 accelerated Group.

Year 9 set 1 and 2 will continue to follow the GCSE course and will sit the GCSE in June 2019. It is aimed that Set 1 and 2 will cover key extension algebra topics in 2017-2018 and will sit the Edexcel Level 3 Award in Algebra, in the summer of June 2018.